Film director, W.Z. Ahmed, was so fascinated by an educated,
well-organized manager of Regal cinema, Lahore, that he called him Shad and offered him a role in his film, ‘Roohi’.

Thus, Shad made his first silver screen appearance with
‘Roohi’ in 1954. The film ‘Roohi’ was shown in Palace cinema, Karachi, produced by C.R. Golani. Shammi
was the lead actress and Shad played the role of Shammi’s brother.

Director-producer, Syed Ata ullah Shah Hashmi, was all
praise for Shad’s performance in the film ‘Roohi’.

He signed Shad to play in an important role in his film
‘Naukar’, which was also the first golden jubilee film of Pakistan. (The film ‘Naukar’,1954, starring,
Shad- Raagni- Nazeer- Sauran Lata)

Soon, director Sheikh Lateef, nick named, Seth Lacchoo
of the film exchange, selected Shad for his up coming film, ‘Anokhi’.

Afterwards, Zia became Aslam Pervez (his name was changed
for the third and last time) and he worked as hero opposite Noor Jehan in the Punjabi film ‘Paatay Khan’. (Producer,
Islam uddin Shami, director, M.A. Rasheed, Zareef played the title role of ‘Paatay Khan’, composer, Akhtar Husain,
starring, Aslam Pervez- Noor Jehan- Zareef- M.Ismail- Alauddin- Nazeer- singer-cum actress, Zubeida Khanum was dubbed as Zareef’s
lover. The hit film ‘Paatay Khan’ sky- rocketed the career of Aslam Pervez.

He appeared in many movies before achieving stardom.

In his thirty years as an actor, 1954-84, Aslam Pervez
was known for his cinematic face, attractive personality and fashionable dress.

He added to his success with the following films:

‘Pardaisan’, ‘Painga’, Paasbaan’,
‘Pholay Khan’ and ‘Palkan’

Additionally, he was well known for socializing with
people. His friends and associates named him ‘Prince Aslam’ for his magnanimity.

Below are five films, which established his national
reputation:

‘Kachhian kalyaan’, ‘Zulfaan’,
Miss 56, ‘Chan Maahi’ and ‘Aas Paas’.

Furthermore, he was the patron-in-chief of a popular
cricket club in Lahore. Being a good cricketer himself, he always financed the club.

The following five movies eloquently proves his attachment
to the public:

‘Muzloom’, Aankh ka nasha’, ‘Humsafar’,
‘Choomantar’ and ‘Koel’.

His leading ladies over the years included Noor Jehan-
Musarrat Nazeer- Sabiha Khanum- Bahar- Yasmeen- Shamim Ara- and Nayyar Sultana.

Around that time, Aslam Pervez suffered a temporary
set back. The following nine films flopped at the box office. His reputation was at stake:

However, the films ‘Bhabhi’ and ‘Ishq
per zoar nahi’ did good business.

The film distributors refused to show films in the theaters,
in which Aslam Pervez played the lead romantic role.

The year 1959 brought encouraging news for Aslam Pervez.
The film ‘Neend’ was Hasan Tariq’s first film as director. No pain no gain. Hasan Tariq took a big risk
by offering a unique role to Aslam Pervez in his film ‘Neend’.

Despite the fact that Aslam Pervez was the hero of ‘Neend’
he was portrayed as a bad man. He was dubbed as highly influential entrepreneur. His role was a blend of good and bad.

As the story goes, he fell in love with an attractive
but poor girl, whom he raped. Later, the innocent rape victim dies, after giving birth to a baby girl.

That experimental role was an arduous challenge for
Aslam Pervez. He was very successful in that character. In reality, the film ‘Neend’ made Aslam Pervez the first
anti- hero of the Pakistani cinema.

For the first time in 1960, he appeared as villain in
the film ‘Saheli’, directed by S.M. Yusuf. To see is to believe. From head to toe, he successfully portrayed himself
as a wicked man.

From 1960 onwards, the film directors always gave him
the role of a villain.

The films of lasting interest like the five below are
still fresh in our minds: